Molecular playground/Chymotrypsin

One of the CBI Molecules being studied in the University of Massachusetts Amherst Chemistry-Biology Interface Program at UMass Amherst and on display at the Molecular Playground.

Chymotrypsin (Alpha-Chymotrypsin Dimer ) is a proteolytic enzyme which cleaves peptide bonds. The enzyme shows selectively to peptides with aromatic sidechains on the carboxyl side of the peptide bond. This is due to a “hydrophobic pocket” near the active site of the enzyme. The protein also contains a large number of cationic residues.

In this depiction, Cationic Residues, the cationic amino acid residues on the protein (blue) can interact with anionic, functionalized nanoparticles. After the nanoparticle-protein complex is formed, chymotrypsin then displays a preference for cationic substrates due to interaction with the anionic nanoparticle. The active site of chymotrypsin is shown in red.

Molecular Playground banner: Chymotrypsin is a digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins